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County Commissioner Cary Groninger gave a brief update Tuesday during the commissioners’ meeting on the Justice Building repair work.
On Aug. 29, exterior limestone panels on the east side (facing Lake Street) of the Justice Building fell due to a soffit failure. No one was injured.
Groninger said Tuesday, “We are still working with our engineering firm. They were in the first mid part of December and did do cut openings in the panels just to confirm what all we had there. We’re moving ahead with getting those drawings and stuff completed so that can be out for bid here probably in about 60, 69 days, I think is what we’re hoping for, so we can get those repairs done.”
He said they’re still working toward that and there’s a lot of discussions going on as they move forward.
Commissioner Bob Conley said he’s had several people ask why there’s a big hole in the side of the building.
“We’re just doing our due diligence to make sure what happened previously with the collapse of the facade, that the rest of the building is sound and we don’t have any other issues,” he stated.
Later in the meeting, Troy Turley, Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board, who is serving as the project manager for the multi-year Chinworth Bridge Trailhead project, gave an update on the project to the commissioners.
Thus far, he said they’ve established the Friends of the Trails Group through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. To date, $16,050 has been raised, with $5,000 of that earmarked for specific projects, leaving $11,050 unrestricted that can be used to maintain properties.
“This fall, ahead of the Chinworth Bridge Trail Extension ribbon-cutting, the first Friends of the Trails work event took place, which was a clean-up of the trailhead area and it was a tremendous success,” Turley said.
He said the group has demonstrated it can do work and raise funds.
“We met with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to map out a multi-year Lake And River Enhancement grant process that will be used for shoreline stabilization efforts,” Turley said. “And we met with the Kosciusko County Soil and Water District for grants and collaboration opportunities going forward.”
Last Thursday, he continued, he went before the county council to remind them of the project and ask them for their continued support moving forward and the council was favorable.
“Through various meetings with multiple people, it has been suggested it would be best if Friends of the Trails raise three years of funds for anticipated expenses by the end of the project, if land transfers. Today, Friends of the Trails has $11,050 and with a three-year project, it is believed Friends of the Trails can reach the three-year goal if we follow up with continued fundraising for year-over-year maintenance for years to come,” Turley said.
“As a compensating factor for moving the land from the Historical Society to the county, discussions, based on the growth that is projected in the area at 350 West and Old 30, it probably makes sense to move the property now for drainage and to protect the infrastructure should modifications to that intersection be needed in the future.”
Various discussions with the Kosciusko County Historical Society have taken place and they are looking forward to the move of the property “at zero price, or if a monetary value is required, they have agreed to donate the dollar to satisfy the transaction’s needs,” Turley explained.
County Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell said the Chinworth property originally came from the county and went to the Historical Society. She asked, “Then, the deed that you would be working to get is to get it back into the commissioners’ name?”
Turley said that was correct.
Groninger said the first step was to get the property back into the hands of the county. The property is becoming a burden on the Historical Society’s membership, and the county does already own the bridge that is there.
“So long term, this is a really good idea, especially with the continued growth with Slate (Auto) and other things out that way. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for this property to be used in positive ways,” Groninger stated.
No action was taken by the commissioners.
Andrew Boxberger, Tippecanoe Chapman Sewer District attorney, and TCSD Board member Jacob Yahne requested a repayment extension for the $40,000 the sewer district was loaned from the commissioners for surveying and other preliminary work.
The district was given until January 2028 to pay that amount back.
Boxberger said the project will be completed in mid-2027. He said the loan repayment extension will allow the district the ability to accumulate some revenue in order to pay back the loan.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved a contract with Eaton for the preventative maintenance at the county’s four public safety communications tower sites at Claypool, Sidney, Kosciusko County Highway Department and Dewart Lake for $65,304, as requested by County Administrator Marsha McSherry.
“This past year, we just had a one-year that was built upfront. If we did a five-year built upfront, it would be $65,304. That would be considerable savings. This is something that we do need to have, it’s the preventative maintenance for those sites,” she said.
• Approved a quote from Core Mechanical to replace the bladder tank for the heat loop at the county courthouse for $9,085, as requested by McSherry.
• Heard from McSherry that the renovations started Monday in the county treasurer’s office. On Friday, the treasurer’s office was moved to space in the basement of the old county courthouse. The treasurer’s office will be down there for four to six weeks until the new carpeting, painting and repair work are completed.
• Approved Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand’s request to apply for a K21 Health Foundation grant to cover half of the cost of a new body scanner for the county jail. Commissary funds will cover the other half of the $172,500 cost of the scanner. If the grant is not received, commissary funds will cover the entire cost of the scanner.
• Approved the 2026 chaplain services professional agreement with Layne Sumner, as requested by Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith.
“This is something that we started last year. I’m very pleased with the progress of it. That’s another resource I can give all of our employees, whether it be after a tough call or something personal or whatever may be going on,” Smith said. “As big as our department is, it was something that was needed for a long time and we’re just super proud that we have that.”
• Heard from Smith the sheriff’s office is potentially upgrading their WEX card program. WEX cards are what the sheriff’s office uses to get fuel in all of their fleet vehicles.
“We have an opportunity in front of us to partner with a local station that has several locations throughout the county. We wouldn’t be exclusive to just using them, but it’s an opportunity to save money for every gallon that we purchase. And as we get more information on that ... we’ll certainly forward that information to you. I’m excited about another opportunity to save money for the citizens of the county,” Smith stated.
• Approved for the Kosciusko County Health Department to enter into an agreement with attorney Adam Turner for legal services for the Health Department for 2026, as requested by Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver.
• Elected Bob Conley as president for 2026 and Mitchell as vice president.
